The chainsaw will start buzzing and woodchips will fly as the Shop Night program at the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau gets underway for the year.

Every year, when the snow melts, youths performing community service head out into the woods to harvest pine trees. They carefully peel the bark with old fashioned draw knives and do their best to prepare the logs for furniture building back at the shop.

When the logs are dry enough to work with, youths begin to put their imaginations to work creating log benches and stools. They do it all . . . carve tenons to fit into holes, glue joints, and level all of their projects. With an additional bit of sanding and coats of polyurethane the projects are finally ready for sale.

Most projects are special ordered and find homes immediately. Pieces that aren't pre-ordered can be seen by potential buyers in front of Youth Service Bureau or in the building's front lobby. All proceeds from the sales benefit the Community Justice Program.

Interested in putting in an order for a piece of log furniture? Would you like to help support the Youth Service Bureau in this unique way? Stop in, call or e-mail Matt Howard. He can be reached at (651) 464-3685 or by e-mail at matt.howard@ysblakesarea.org. More information is also available on YSB's Web site, www.ysblakesarea.org.